Documents for proof of identity

We require proof of identity to issue a driver license, instruction permit, or ID card. Learn which documents you'll need to bring to a driver licensing office.

1. Select a group below to see which documents you need to bring

General requirements for all ages

Show us one of the options below:

  • Option 1: One stand-alone document
  • Option 2: Two A-list documents
  • Option 3: One A-list document, and 2 B-list documents
  • Option 4: Four B-list documents (one of which must establish your name and date of birth)

25 years old and under

If you're unable to meet the general requirements, your parent/guardian must come with you to a driver licensing office and provide their attestation of your identity. Before attestation, your parent/guardian must show:

  • Proof of their identity by providing one item from the stand-alone document list
  • Proof that they're your parent/guardian (e.g. certified birth certificate, adoption papers, or a school transcript with their name on it)
  • If your last name is different from your parent/guardian's, we'll require more documents such as their marriage certificate or divorce decree

You'll need to bring:

  • One item from the A-list or
  • One item from the B-list that establishes your name and date of birth (e.g. your certified birth certificate or adoption papers)

18 years or older and have assigned court guardians (typically due to physical or mental limitations)

Prove your identity by visiting a driver licensing office with your guardian and showing us all of the following:

  • Proof of your guardian's identity using one document from the stand-alone list
  • A court decree assigning guardianship
  • One item from the A-list, or one item from the B-list that establishes your name and date of birth (e.g. your certified birth certificate or adoption papers)

Enrolled in Job Corps

Show us:

  • Your Job Corps ID card, and
  • One item from the B-list that establishes your name and date of birth (e.g. your certified birth certificate or adoption papers)

2. Documents we accept

We do not accept copied, scanned, or photographed documents. Unless otherwise noted, if your document from the stand-alone or A-list does not have an easily identifiable photo, it will be reduced to a B-list document.

Stand-alone documents

  • U.S. passport — Valid (an emergency passport isn't acceptable)
  • U.S. passport card — Valid
  • U.S. state or territory issued driver license, ID card, or photo instruction permit — Valid or expired no more than 1 year
  • U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization with your photo, signature, and recognizable photo
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service ID — Valid
    • I-327 U.S. Permit to Re-Enter Travel Document
    • I-551 Permanent Resident Card
    • I-571 U.S. Refugee Travel Document
    • I-766 Employment Authorization
  • U.S. armed services ID card with photo — Valid
  • Refugee verification packet (contact your resettlement agency for more information)
  • U.S. B1/B2 Visa Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150) — Valid
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons release identification card
  • ID verification letter from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families for foster youth

A-List documents

  • U.S. passport — Expired no more than 1 year (an emergency passport isn't acceptable)
  • U.S. passport card — Expired no more than 1 year
  • U.S. state or territory issued driver license, ID card, or photo instruction permit — Expired 1 to 6 years
  • U.S. Visa — Valid (typically attached to a foreign passport page)
  • Tribal enrollment ID card — Valid, must be a federally recognized tribe and must have your signature and photo
  • U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ID card with signature and photo
  • U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization with photo, signature, and your photo is not recognizable (e.g. a baby photo and now you're an adult)
  • Valid Foreign passport along with:
    • Valid U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) entry form I-94/I94W, or
    • Valid Temporary I-551 ADIT stamp, or
    • Valid US Visa that has the legend "Upon endorsement serves as Temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year" and a valid DHS admission stamp, or
    • I-551 annotation that is expired on the visa but less than one year since date of admission on the DHS admission stamp
  • El Salvador Identification card (Documento Unico de Identidad) — Valid
  • Guatemala Consulate ID card (Identificación Consular) — Valid
  • Guatemala Identification card (Documento Personal de Identificación) — Valid
  • Honduras Consulate ID card (Matricula Consular – Consular ID) — Valid
  • Honduras Identification card (Tarjeta de Identidad) — Valid
  • Japan Driver License — Valid
  • Mexico Consular ID card (Matricula Consular) — Valid
  • Mexico FederalElectoral card (Credencial Para Votar) — Valid
  • Peru National ID card (Documento Nacional de Identidad) — Valid
  • Verification ID letter from an agency supervising you and that we have an agreement with (contact your supervising agency and have them send us the verification ID letter). We currently have agreements with:
    • Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC)
    • U.S. Federal correction authorities (FDOC)
    • Department of Social and Health Services Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (DSHS JRA)
  • Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) offender ID badge

B-List documents

Documents that establish your name and date of birth

  • Birth certificate, U.S. or foreign — Certified
  • Birth certificate from Puerto Rico — Certified
    • We will accept birth certificates as proof of Puerto Rican citizenship issued on or after July 1, 2010.
    • We can't accept birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued before July 1, 2010.
    • If yours was issued before July 1, 2010, you can get a new copy from the Government of Puerto Rico E-Government Site.
  • Birth registration card that shows your name, date of birth, place of birth, file date, and issue date — Certified
  • Adoption papers
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad
  • NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST border crossing card — Valid
  • U.S. passport — Expired more than 1 year (an emergency passport isn't acceptable)
  • U.S. passport card — Expired more than 1 year
  • U.S. state or territory-issued driver license, ID Card, or photo instruction permit — Expired more than 6 years
  • Foreign driver license or ID card — Valid or expired no more than 6 years
  • Foreign passport — Expired no more than 6 years
  • U.S. Military DD Form 214
  • Veteran Administration Identification with the date of birth
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner's card — Valid or expired no more than 6 years
  • Concealed weapons permit issued by a Washington county — Valid
  • Ward of the Court decree/Order of Dependency

Documents that show name and date of birth or signature or photo

  • Clearance letter or driving record from another state's DMV — Issued in the last 30 days
  • Social Security card
  • Marriage license/certificate — Certified by the issuing government authority
  • Divorce decree — Certified by the issuing government authority
  • Government employee ID card (state or federal) with signature and photo
  • Police employee ID card issued by a Washington city or county
  • Professional license (nurse, physician, engineer, etc.)
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
  • Veteran Administration Identification with photo
  • Selective Service card
  • Medicare card (not a DSHS Medical Services Card)
  • School record from Mexico with seal and picture of an individual at age of issue
  • School transcript or record or Forms I-20 or DS-2019 for foreign exchange students
  • School yearbook or copy certified by the school with a recognizable photo

Note: We may need more documents to verify your identity.

If you’re an agency, consulate, organization, or interest group that would like to have your identity document added to our standard identity list, please submit a request for consideration.

Unacceptable documents

If we can't accept your documents, we'll work with you to see what other options are available. If your documents are fraudulent, you won't be able to reapply for 364 days.

3. Provide your Social Security Number (SSN)

We verify your SSN with the Social Security Administration and use it to help enforce child support laws.

If applying for a driver license, you must provide your SSN. If you don't have one, you can sign a declaration saying so.

If you're getting a Commercial Driver License (CDL), you must have an SSN and show proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency (see list of approved documents).

4. Have your photo taken

We'll take your photo while you're at the driver licensing office. We use facial recognition technology to prevent identity theft. You'll need to remove anything that covers your face or head (e.g. hat or sunglasses). If you don't want to remove them, "Not Valid for Identification" will be printed on your card. Exceptions will be made for medical and religious reasons.

Need additional help? Here's how to contact us:

call Phone: 360-902-3900
(TTY: Call 711)
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